Wednesday’s grim start to the season continued as West Brom emerged 1-0 winners at the Hawthorns.

John Swift’s first half goal was enough to decide the contest and although the Baggies dominated possession, the Owls did have opportunities to arrest the slide.

But not for the first time this term, it was not to be, and the hunt for victory goes on.

The hosts piled on the pressure from the outset and broke through to net the decisive goal on 12 minutes.

Alex Mowatt motored down the right flank as Akin Famewo lost his footing and looked up to pick out Swift, who smashed past Devis Vasquez at the near post.

But Wednesday were a whisker away from levelling almost immediately from the restart.

Ashley Fletcher took advantage of a defensive lapse to cross for Juan Delgado and the Chilean needed just another inch to convert on the slide from close range.

Tyreeq Bakinson then brought a super save from Alex Palmer, curling a beauty from 20 yards that the Baggies keeper palmed out of the top corner and over.

West Brom resumed control, though, and went close to a second on the half-hour mark. Mowatt’s corner triggered a goalmouth scramble and Vasquez was alert to keep out Okay Yokuslu with his feet.

Palmer blocked an angled Fletcher shot at the other end and that ensured his side went into the break holding the advantage.

It was more of the same in the second period as the Midlanders took the box seat, leaving Wednesday reliant on the counter.

But for all their possession, there was little to speak of in terms of talking points. Time and again they knocked at the door only for the Owls to hold firm.

In fact, one of the few highlights of the second half belonged to the visitors as Pol Valentin raced down the wing and delivered an inviting low cross that Cedric Kipre had to hoof clear.

Wednesday went on to finish the game in the midst of their best spell throughout but lacked real penetration to hurt an in-form West Brom, who posted a second success in five days.

Wednesday: Vasquez, Palmer, Iorfa, Bernard, Famewo, Vaulks (Buckley 76), Bakinson (Hendrick 76), Delgado (Valentin 58), Musaba (Wilks 76), Smith, Fletcher (Gassama 64)